ATLANTA – Perhaps no team is more dependent upon umpiring than the Braves because they are such a pitching dominant team.

The Braves hurlers like to get the benefit of wide strike zones from National League umpires, and their manager Bobby Cox, who was ejected from 10 games in the regular season, can often be seen politicking from the dugout when things don’t go his way.

The Braves were less than happy with the way home plate umpire Randy Marsh was calling Game One Saturday night, especially in the late innings, and could not help themseleves from complaining about it.

Before the Series started, Cox, who prospers and sinks with the strike zones his pitchers get, promised himself he wouldn’t complain about the umpiring.

“I made up my mind I’m not going to talk about the umpiring in this series,” he said after that game. “Bu you know, close, close pitches will determine the game one way or the other … There were a lot of calls that were extremely, extremely close. A bunch of ’em.”

John Rocker made it clear he didn’t get a couple of pitches he wanted, especially a 2-2 pitch to Jim Leyritz that eventually led to a walk and a run. Rocker said the 2-2 pitch “was exactly where I wanted it.”

Braves catcher Eddie Perez would only say, “It’s best not to talk about it.”

The Braves were also upset that Chipper Jones was called out trying to steal second in the seventh inning when replays made it seem as if he were safe.